Myth: My students would prefer that I not suggest changes to their setup / bike fit.
Alternates of this Myth are:
- My students would be offended or embarrassed if I even touch their setup.
- Other Instructors may be offended if I make suggestions to their student's setup.
People are creatures of habit and routine. We all derive comfort from the familiar. Like robots, we try to do exactly the same thing every time we find ourselves in these familiar situations/places.
For the regulars in your class this means they get to the club at the same time, park in the same general location, attempt to get the same locker, find the same bike and set it up in exactly the same way, every time.
Unfortunately just because some behavior is routine, doesn't mean it's correct or for that matter rational 🙁
I'm going to assume that you do want everyone looking right and feeling comfortable on their bikes. So let's get past this myth if it's holding you back.
First, I feel it's important that you recognize the initial resistance to change your offer may receive. It may not be as traumatic as missing Judge Wapner was for Rain Man, but for some of your participants change isn't a comfortable thing. So your success will come down to how to presenting (dare I say selling) your "suggestion" properly.
A while back I wrote a post about the importance of asking the right question. In it I discussed how I'm frequently asked; "Where can I get certified as an Instructor?" My quick answer was typically to have them check with all of the Indoor Cycling certification companies to see when they were hosting a certification near by and sign up. But then I realized they weren't asking the right question. Sure, getting certified is important, but it wasn't what they were really looking for. The right question was; "what do I need to do to become an Instructor and teach a regularly scheduled class at my local studio?"
It's all about the Benefits
No one woke up with an irresistible urge to order a ThighMaster - but thousands of people did because they wanted Suzanne Summers' legs. What sold these worthless pieces of exercise equipment was that people are motivated by the benefits (real or perceived) that they feel they will receive by purchasing a product or making a change. Going back to my earlier example, telling someone at a party you're Spinning® certified isn't nearly as impressive as proudly explaining that you are the Saturday morning Instructor at the local Big Box club.
Am I making sense here?
So the right questions to ask a participant who could benefit from a little adjustment could be:
- Can I show you a trick (people love tricks) to be more comfortable riding today? It doesn't hurt if the benefit comes immediately either.
- I just learned a how a small change in your position can improve your hamstring engagement, can we see if it would help you become more efficient, powerful or help you develop more shapely legs?
And most of us need to hear about those supposed benefits, over and over and over, before considering they apply to us. So why not start sprinkling the benefits of proper setup / bike fit into your class intro starting tomorrow?
Originally posted 2012-12-05 05:57:12.
John is a member on the AFS (Association of Fitness Studios) Advisory Council.
Holding certifications from; Schwinn, Heart Zones, Team ICG and Life Time Fitness, John's held regularly scheduled cycling classes between 1998 and 2015 when he moved to Florida.
When the weather permits, you'll find him riding and leading outdoor groups by himself or with his Tandem partner (wife) Amy.
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One of the very few benefits to having new class members drift in a minute or two after the start of class (note the *minute or two* vs. 10 minutes, mind) is that it gives me the opportunity to run through basic *biomechanically sound* bike set through the mic. so everyone gets to listen. I even mention that I’m doing the set up through the mic to give everyone a chance to self assess while I’m at it.
I use a goniometer and plumb line (actually one of those light pull chains with a fancy ferrule that Home Depot sells) … I swear this generates far more requests from other class members than pretty much all the unsolicited questions etc.
I’m commiting the *routine* vs. *rational* to memory mind.
Thanks, John…..glad for the “print friendly” once again
Vivienne
I am old school use the basic setting put the person on the bike and ask them to turn their leg … static calibration is good but not always the best … just by watching on all the body is moving will help you understand what to do, but for that you have to know what to watch …
Vivienne,
A great idea and adjunct to John’s post. When I new rider comes in keep the mic hot, pull out the ole goniometer and plumb bob. Talk through the set up. When I’m done simply mention that I am always willing to do the setup just come early or stay late.
Perfect.
Chuck
Pascal you’re exactly right about “knowing how to watch”. When I’m on a big event outdoor ride I can’t help but “see” when someone isn’t setup corectly and it’s all I can do to keep myself from riding up along side and make unsolicited “suggestions”.
For sure, “the eyeball doesn’t lie”….usually….. and I’ll oftentimes have to tweak a bike set-up after I’ve done the goniometer and plumb bob thing and watched a rider over the course af a few minutes (at least, as much as it’s possible to tweak set-up on an indoor bike, that is)
One of the issues I deal with quite frequently, though, is the sort of general intransigence that comes with having done the same ole, same ole every class……and then this upstart instructor (me) wants you to do it differently just because you changed your class time to a Wednesday rather than a Thursday. I recognise it because I’ve been there myself. Manifestly, I must just look too young to know what I’m talking about!
I think that sometimes when members show up to a new class (either as newbies themselves or with a new-to-them instructor) there’s an element of them thinking that anything new that they hear is “just another opinion”…..and by implication, something they can ignore.
Like I mentioned, I’ve found that fishing out the goniometer and plumb bob tends to bring a bit of *gravitas* to the bike set up ritual…….as in, it’s not my opinion, it’s evidence based! I even though of purchasing that seriously expensive Lemond goniometer with the colour code for “right” and “wrong” as a way to divorce my recommendations from what might seem to be my “belief”
Vivienne
A tool or prop brings with it authority Vivienne. I worked with a guy who had a standing bet that he could waltz into any building or office and go on an unguided tour, by simply carrying a clip board.